City Moves Forward With Senior Housing Development

The City of Rosemount is moving forward with plans to build a senior housing development on the property behind the , formerly the site of the Church of St. Joseph.

City officials will be meeting with representatives from Development Representation Associates (DRA) today to discuss the project for the first time since DRA was to carry out the development.

"There is a need for, at least, certain kinds of senior housing,” said Dwight Johnson, City Administrator for the City of Rosemount.

Early estimates from DRA project that the development will consist of 80 to 90 housing units. The units will be privatized, market-rate, rentable living spaces.  For the first time in years, the land will be the site of a tax-paying structure.

The city also hopes to house a senior center in the new development.  The center would be a public entity.

Although this development will provide market-rate housing, Johnson also acknowledged the need for affordable senior residences and indicated that the city will work with the Dakota County Community Development Agency to provide more affordable housing in the future.

At this time, there are no cost projections for the market-rate senior housing development.  

Rosemount Community Development Director Kim Lindquist stated that the city hopes to solidify the design this winter and begin construction late summer 2012.

“Senior housing is a good product at this point in the economy,” said Lindquist.  “As our population ages we want to make sure we have resources for our population to stay in their hometown community.”